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Inauguration Day Events Around the City

Jen Carlson

Published Jan 19, 2009

Modified Jan 19, 2009

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Jen Carlson

Published Jan 19, 2009

Modified Jan 19, 2009

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Whether you're at work, at home or on the streets of New York tomorrow, there's somewhere to watch the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, and there's plenty of places to celebrate afterwards. If you want to track the festivities in DC, the NY Times has set up this map, and our DCist and Chicagoist teams are on the field.

Start off the new era with some yoga. Ommm...bama will be taking place bright n' early at 8 a.m. at The Pond at Bryant Park, where attendees will "send a wave of good karma to our president elect in Washington." 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Free.
Time Warner announced that they will be airing the broadcast on three screens around New York: Harlem (Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office building, 63 W 125th St and 7th Ave); Times Square (Father Duffy Square, northern triangle of Times Square between 45-47th streets and Broadway and 7th Ave); Downtown (Foley Square, intersections of Duane, Lafayette, Centre and Pearl streets). More details here.
The Time's Up Inauguration Bike Ride will start with a meet-up under the arch in Washington Square Park at 2 p.m. and set off for points unknown to celebrate President Obama with pedal power. According to Time's Up, "we'll be playing presidential music on the sound bike as we cycle through the streets and cheer the peaceful transition of power." Rain or snow cancels the ride. [Via Brooklyn by Bike.] — John Del Signore
Symphony Space will open their doors for an Inauguration Day Open House. "The public is invited to attend the Upper West Side’s neighborhood living room, to watch the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama on the big screen. True to its mission of providing a local destination for great events and affordable performances in an informal setting, Symphony Space will celebrate this historic day with free admission to watch the festivities and light fare and beverages available from the unWINEd Wine Bar & Lounge." Doors open at 10:00 a.m., and will remain open through 4 p.m. 2537 Broadway.
For those on-the-run, stop by a W Hotel tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. All locations will be offering "Inauguration Stations," with LIVE inauguration coverage, extra copies of newspapers, pins, and flags. Guests are invited to stick around after hours to enjoy presidential cocktails such as the Ciroc Obama, Obamagranate and Biden Time.

Continued after the jump...

Pacific Standard will open at 11 a.m. to show the inauguration on two big projection screens. They promise "inaugural decorations (bunting!) and a potluck of various food items for people to graze on. Drink-wise, we'll have fresh-made pint-size Bloody Marys for $7, $3 pints of a couple different varieties of microbrew all day/night, and our usual $1 off happy hour from the time we open until 8 pm. In other words, we're going to inaugurate the crap out of this place." 82 Fourth Ave, Brooklyn.
Southpaw will wait until 7 p.m. to celebrate, with a post-Inauguration celebration and goodbye party for Bush. The event will be hosted by Alex Grashow & Jah C, and promises the simpler things in life: pool, darts, pinball, & free table tennis all night long.
Campo, the festive Italian place near Columbia University, is doing a three-course "Bye Bye Bush" lunch with complimentary Champagne for $9.99. Seatings are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the restaurant will be broadcasting the inauguration ceremony on their large flat screen. 2888 Broadway, call (212) 864-1143 for reservations. — John Del Signore
Monkey Town restaurant/bar/performance lounge in Williamsburg has given in to "popular consent and demand" and will provide live coverage of the Inauguration via satellite television feed on four giant screens. 58 North 3rd Street (between Kent & Wythe). Free, no reservations necessary. — John Del Signore
Back Forty, the "haute barnyard" restaurant in Alphabet City, will be hosting a "rollicking" dance party with vinyl-obsessed WFMU DJ Mr. Fine Wine, who will be playing the best of Chicago Soul all evening. $40 gets you a buffet and passed hors d'oeuvres, and the cash bar will be serving cocktails and one of the last precious kegs of "Hop Obama" Ale from Sixpoint Craft Ales. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to the Brennan Center for Justice. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., 190 Avenue B @ 1th Street; call (212) 388-1990 for reservations. — John Del Signore
If you are in the spirit of giving, head to the Bell House for a celebration and benefit. Tickets cost $75, and proceeds go to PS 261. Expect performances by South African Music Collective featuring: Mikanic,Tony Cedras (Paul Simon Band), Nathi Gcabashe (Hugh Masakela),with special guest Zolani Mahola from Freshly Ground. They'll also be showing Obama's speech on the big screen at 7:30 p.m. 149 7th St, Gowanus.
An Inauguration Cocktail Reception is being held at Greenhouse, that eco-friendly nightclub. Obama's speech will be played multiple times, and there's free cocktails from 9 to 11 p.m. courtesy of Lucid Absinthe. If you think you can stomach two hours of free absinthe, there are more details here—and don't forget to RSVP. 150 Varick St. Free.
If you can't go to an official Inaugural Ball, join in on a fake one that offers up food courtesy of the Red Hook ball-field vendors! The celebration, presented by Smack Melon, goes from 7 p.m. to midnight, and you can get more details here. 92 Plymouth St, Brooklyn. $20.

Photo of Barack Obama during his college years via Time; photo of the Obamas in DC on Sunday by Chicagoist.

Tagged

barack obama

events

inauguration

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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